Container closing machine



June 30, 1931. A, J, CHAMBLMN 1,812,584

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CONTAINER cLosrNe NACNINE 1111Nanot.l ,1927 2 sheets-sneer 2 INVENTOR.

` Wawy M ATTORNEY.

Patented June 3o, 1931A f PATENT OFFICE ALFRED J'. CHAMBERLAIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE Application iled October 6, 1927. Serial No. 224,330.

container. One of the objects of the present invention h is to provide a portable closing machine of this character which has common means for shifting the machine from container to container and for operating the bending means or dies which are provide-d for bending the securing elements. The operating means is so organized with the bending means that it operates the same withrmarked mechanical advantage, thereby exerting a powerful bending action Without the exercise of any apprec-iable degree of strength or effort on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container closing machine of this character which has a plurality of sets of dies which subject each securing element to a series of successive bending operations whereby to cause the securing elements to fasten the cover or closure in closed position. l

The machine embodying the present invention is especially adapted for use with a container which has acircumferential series of l vertical securing lugs around the periphery of its opening. These lugs are adapted to be bent around' the rim of the closure and to effect this the machine embodying the present invention has a series 'of horizontally dis'- posed sliding dies which are iniiuenced by an actuating member to bend the lugs from their vertical position to a horizontal position.

The actuating member carries a die which `bends the-lugs from a horizontal position to their final securing position. Organized with the dies is a plurality of anchoring aws which grip the container at the very start of the operation so as to hold the closure in position and also to maintainthe machine in position. These anchoring jaws are automatically set and released upon appropriate operation of the dies.

Other objects and advantages reside incertain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifi-Y cation, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2, parts being shown in side eleva-tion for the sake of illustration Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine, the handles being shown in section;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure lis a plan View showing diagrammatically one type ,of container with which themachine may be used; and A Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing how the dies are positioned in the final phases of the operation.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a container having an vinclined gasket seat 2 and a rim 3. Bendable securing.

lugs 4 are integral with the container and project vertically upward therefrom priorto the application of the cover or closure 5 to the container. The cover "or closure ihas a rolled rim 6 and an inclined pdiition 7 which compresses a gasket 8 against theV gasket seat 2. l

The present invention provides a machine for bending the lugs 4 from their'vertical position, shown in Figure 1, a-round to the dotted line position, shown in Figures 1 and 4, and for this purpose the machine comprises a base 10 having a depending peripheral flange' 11 adapted to engage the closure or cover 5 as shown in Figure 1. Sockets 12 are integrally formed with the base and receive sliding dies 13. The dies are hollowed out to receive portions of the coil springs 14 which tend to project the dies outwardly. These dies 13 have curved lug engaging members 15 and above the lug engaging members have inclined or camming surfaces 16. An actuating member designated generally at 17 is providedjfor the dies 13 and includes a ring-like body portion 18 integral with the outer ends of spider arms 19, the spider arms 19 radiating from va hub or bearing portion 20 Which is slidably fitted on a fixed mounting shaft 21 fastened to the base 10 as indicated at 22. The ring-like body portion 18 of the actuating member has an inclined or camming surface 23 which engagesy and coacts with the inclined or camming surfaces 16 of the dies 13 to force these dies 13 inwardly against the action of the springs 14 when the actuating member is depressed or moved downwardly. The inward movement of the dies 13 bend the lugs 4 from their vertical position, shown in Figure 1, to the horizontal position indicat'ed in dotted lines in the same figure. After this bending of the lugs has been completed the dies 13 have been moved inwardly clear of the lugs and an annular die member 24 forlned at the lower end of the ring-like body portion 18 of the actuatingmember then engages the lugs 4 to force them down into their final securing position, as illustrated in Figure 5.

Common means is provided for appropriately moving the actuatingimember and for handling and shifting the machine from one container to another and this means comprises a pair of racks 25 provided on the shaft 21. Pinions 26 mesh with the racks 25, the pinions 26 being fitted in slots 27 provided in the hub or bearing portion 20 of the actuating member and' being pivoted to this hub or bearing portion as indicated at 28. Elongated handles 29 are rigidly connected with the pinions 26 as indicated at 30.

The upward movement of the actuating member on the shaft 21 is limited by a stop pin 31 provided on the shaft 21 and engageable with the hub or bearing portion 20 of the actuating member. The downward movement of the actuating member is limited by the means of adjustable stop screws 32 threaded through lugs 33 integral with the ringlike body portion 18 of the actuating member and held in adjusted position by means of nuts 34. The lower ends of the sto screws 32 are engageable with the base 10 in etween the sockets 12, as will be understood from Figure 2.

Means is provided for anchoring the malchine on the container at the very start of the operation and this means is operated automatically so as to be engaged at the start of the operation and disengaged when the op# eration has been completed and when the machine is to be removed from the container. This anchoring means comprises a plurality of jaws 40 pivoted as at 41 on the periphery of the base 10 and adapted to engage around the rim 3 of the container. The jaws 40 have tail pieces 42 projecting in under the base 10 through openings in its fiange 11 and connected to studs or bolts 43, the studs or bolts 43 projecting through oblong openings 44 provided in the base 10 and being urged upwardly by means of coil springs 45 interposed between a washer 46 engaging the head of the Stud 43 and a washer 47 mounted on the stud and overlapping the margin of the opening 44. These springs 45 are tensioned so as to tend at all times to swing the jaws 40 to a position wherein they engage the rim of the container. Links in the form of I-bolts 50 are pivotally connected as at 51 to the jaws 40 and project through apertured lugs 52 rovided on the ring-like body portion 18 o the actuating member. Nuts 53 threaded on the upper ends of the links 50 are engageable .with these lugs 52. When the handles 29 are released or raised upwardly the actuating member moves upwardly and the links 50 are elevated due to the engagement of the lugs 52 with the nuts 53 thereof whereby the jaws 40 are swung outwardly against the action of the springs 45. As soon as the handles 29 are spread apart and downwardly from their extreme' upper position the lugs 52 move downwardly and permit the links 50 to move downwardly and the jaws 40 to swing inwardly under the iniuenoe of the springs 45.

In using the machine, thehandles 29are grasped and the machine is lifted and placed on top of the container. Then after the handles are moved apart or released the springs 45 cause the jaws 40 to engage the rim 3 of the container. The machine is then releasably locked on the container, the base 10 of the machine and the shaft 21 being fixed relative to the container. The fiange 11 of the base 10 holds the cover of the container in position. The handles 29 are then forced outwardly and downwardly and the pinions 26 roll down the racks 25 and force the actuating member 17 downwardly. Due to the length of the handles the movement imparted to these handles is transmitted with mechanical advantage to the actuating member. As the actuating member moves downwardly it first forces the dies 13 inwardly to bend the lugs 4 over to a horizontal position, this inward movement of the dies 13 being accomplished lby the coaction of the inclined or camming surfaces 16 and 23. After this, the 'die 24 of the actuating member engages the lugs 4 and forces them down to the final closing position illustrated in Figure 5. The handles 29 are then elevated and the mere act of elevating the handles and lifting the machine by the handles automatic-ally dsengages the jaws 40 from the rim of the container. The dies 13 are restored to their outer positions by the springs 14. Even in its extreme upper position the camming surface 23 still engages the inclined surfaces 16 to prevent displacement of the dies 13 from the socket 12.

An important feature of the invention is believed to reside in the novel operating mechanism constituted by the handles 29 and their associated parts. This operatin mechanism performs the two functions o facilitating the manipulation of the machine and the operation of the bending means QI @195.-

It also operates the anchoring means. This feature is not restricted in its application to the particular die means shown nor to use with anchoring means.

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for securing a cover to a 'container by appropriately bending securing container by appropriately bending securing elements and'comprising a 'base having sockets, dies slidable in the sockets of the base and adapted to initially bend the securing elements, springs for projecting the dies, an actuating member for the dies, cooperating camming surfaces betweenY the actuating' member andthe dies for imparting opera-l tive movement to the dies when vthe actuating member is appropriately moved, and a die on the actuating member for imparting final bending movement to the securing elements.

' 3. A machine foi-applying a closure to a container by appropriately bending securingelements and comprising a base, bending means for thesecuring elements mounted on the base and means for positively anchoring the base to the container during the bending operation. 'l

4. A machine for applying a closure to a container by appropriately bending securing elements and comprising a base, bending means for the securing elements mounted on the base and means'for anchoring the base to the container during the bending operation, and comprising jaws pivoted to the base and engageable with the container, springs for urging the jaws to'a position wherein they engage the container, and means for automatically releasing the jaws.

5. A machine for securing a closure to a container by appropriately bending securing elements and comprising a base, bending means for the securing elements mounted on the base, an actuating member for said bending means, anchoring means securlng the base to the container and comprising a plurality of anchoring aws, spring means for movlng the jaws to a position to have securing engagement with the base, and means connecting the jaws and actuatin member whereby when the actuating mem r is retracted to inactive position the jaws will be released.

6. A machine for applying a cover to a container comprising a base engageable with the cover, releasable securing means on the base engageable with the container to fasten the base in position thereon, a die on the base for causing` the parts of the cover and container to engage, and common means for operating the die and for causing the securing means tovhave fastening engagement with the container 'and also to be released from the container at the proper times.

7. A machine for securing a. closure a container by appropriately bending securing elements and comprising a set of dies movable transversely of the container and operable to initially bend the securing elements,

and die means movable longitudinally'of the I container for finally and completely bending the securing elements to securing position.

8. A machine for securing a. cover to a container by appropriately bending securing elements and comprising a base engageable with the cover, dies slidable across the base and transversely of the cover and operable to initially bend thevsecuring elements, an

actuating member movable longitudinally of the container and coacting with the sliding dies for imparting transverse movement thereto, and a die lcarried by the actuating member and `partaln'ng of its longitudinal movement and engageable with the securing elements after they have been initially bent by the sliding dies and operating to complete Athe bending-of the securing elements.

9. A machine for securing a 'closure' to a container by appropriatelybending the securing elements and comprismg a base, dies slidable across the base and transverselyI ofthe securing elements, an actuating member -mountedI on the base for movement longitudinally of the container, cooperating cammingbmeans on the dies and'on the actuating mem er for imparting transverse sliding movement to the dies when the actuating member is moved longitudinally whereby the Idies initially bend thesecuring elements, and a die carried by the actuating member and engagable with the securing elements after the sliding dies have completed the initial bending thereof and operating to completely and finally bend the securing elements as the actuating member completes its longitudinal movement.

'10. A machine for applying a closure to a container by appropriately bending securing elements and comprising a base, bending means for the securing elements mounted on the' base, operating means for the bending means, means for positively anchoring' the base to the container during bending operation, and means actuated from the operating mechanism for automatically applying and releasing the anchoring means. t

11. A machine for' securinga closure to a container by appropriately bending securing elements and comprising a base engageable with the closure, dies slidable transverse- Vly of the base and operable to initially bend the securing elements, a ring-like actuating member movable longitudinally with respect to the container,` cooperating camming means on the inner surface of the actuating member and on the outer ends of the dies' for moving the dies inwardly when the actuating member is moved longitudinally and downwardly and a die carried by the lower end of the actuatin member and projecting below the sliding,1 ies and'engageable with the securing elements for completely bending the same in the nal phases of the operation.

In witness whereof, I hereto aiix my signature. Y

ALFRED J. ERLAIN. 

